At that moment, Renault and his group of four appeared once again, casually strolling down the road, completely at ease.

"What the hell? How are they just walking around like nothing happened?" He Liu, utterly baffled, couldn't understand how intruders in the base's management district—who should have been shot—were out on the streets as if nothing had happened.

"Wait, what’s our mission again? We’re supposed to keep an eye on them, right? Don’t worry, we just need to follow them," Pang Long reassured He Liu, patting him on the shoulder confidently as they trailed behind Renault’s group.

…

Not long after, a military-green pickup truck pulled up outside Building 7, and a large, portly man stepped out. This was Fu Dahai. He was an old friend of Meng Changkun, the base’s leader, a friendship forged in their drinking sessions before the world descended into chaos.

Fu Dahai's rise to his current status was entirely thanks to this close relationship with Meng. Now, with the base functioning as a haven in the apocalypse, Fu Dahai had secured himself a seat of power.

"Damn brat," Fu muttered to himself as he climbed the stairs to the third floor, slightly out of breath. "I’ve got to personally fetch him. Doesn’t he know how important today’s meeting is?"

Today was a crucial day, a grand meeting of all the base’s leaders, where future strategies would be discussed. Fu Dahai had planned to bring his son, Fu Yang, along to give him some exposure and pave his way in the base's power structure. But instead, Fu Yang hadn’t shown up all morning, likely still in bed.

Fu Dahai finally reached the third floor and stood outside apartment 303, catching his breath. "This should be the place... but where’s the door?"

Confused, Fu Dahai stepped inside. The instant he crossed the threshold, a pungent stench of blood hit him like a wall, making him gag. He staggered, nearly vomiting from the intensity.

The gruesome sight of two mangled bodies greeted him, flesh and bone twisted together in a bloody heap. Even through the disfigurement, he recognized one as Fu Yang.

"My son! Which bastard did this!?" Fu Dahai collapsed to the floor with a cry, his eyes wide and vacant as they fixed on the remains of his son.

…

Before long, the entire base was buzzing with news.

In every corner, workers and officials alike were murmuring about the latest incident.

"Did you hear? Fu Dahai’s son, the Population Minister’s boy, got hacked to death—chopped into pieces!"

"I heard Fu Dahai’s so furious he’s coughing up blood!"

"Serves him right, doesn’t it? Plenty of people are probably celebrating. That spoiled brat had it coming."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Fu Yang’s death sent ripples through the base, some feeling joy, others anxiety. But the general sentiment was one of satisfaction, as many considered it just desserts.

Meanwhile, the man responsible, Guo Haoyu, was already back in the car with Renault.

Renault patted Haoyu on the shoulder, his voice steady, “Today, let me show you what real joy feels like.”

He calculated the timing in his head. If ordinary bronze-level zombies had already started appearing, then the special zombie he was targeting should have evolved to bronze as well.

“Real joy? Renault, what do you mean by that?” Alice asked, her face full of curiosity. She had never heard of "real joy" before.

“You’re just a kid. Don’t think too much,” Fan Bing said as he held his handgun, pretending to aim out the window.

“Say that again!” Alice’s small hands transformed into sharp ice shards, her cute face suddenly turning frosty and cold.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Alice is the best! The strongest, cutest in the world!” Fan Bing quickly switched gears, becoming the perfect flatterer to avoid Alice’s icy wrath.

Unable to keep a straight face, Alice broke into a giggle, dispelling the tension in the car.

…

"He Liu, they’re gone?"

Pang Long nudged his partner awake, his face filled with disbelief.

"Yeah, they just... walked out of the base like it was nothing," He Liu responded, equally dumbfounded.

"Forget it. Let’s just report back and be done with it. This isn’t our problem," Pang Long sighed. He wasn’t thrilled about their failed mission, but there wasn’t much else they could do.

The two soldiers turned back toward the base, disappointed.

…

Meanwhile, back at the Xishan Base’s meeting hall, nearly every important figure within the base had gathered.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’m glad we can all be here today. Regardless of the reasons, I hope you’re all prepared to contribute to the base,” Meng Changkun’s voice boomed through the room, his presence commanding the attention of all. It was clear—the base now belonged to him.

He glanced over at Fu Dahai, signaling for him to speak. Fu Dahai rose, pale and unsteady, bowing toward Meng.

“We, the people, will follow the orders of Commander Meng,” Fu Dahai declared, his voice lacking its usual strength.

In the crowd, Meng’s loyal followers echoed the sentiment.

“We will follow Commander Meng!”

“Through fire and storm, without hesitation!”

The room filled with unified shouts, creating an atmosphere of unwavering loyalty. In this moment, the hierarchy of the base solidified with Meng at its helm.

Meng nodded, clearly pleased with the display of support. With his power consolidated, the future of the base seemed more secure.

“Our first priority is to strengthen the base’s defenses,” Meng continued, turning his attention to the head of construction.

The man stood up quickly and bowed. “Don’t worry, Commander Meng. I’ll personally oversee the work.”

Meng smiled. He had no intention of losing the comfort and control he had gained. The base was his, and he wasn’t about to let that change.

“Commander, my son... what happened to him was tragic,” Fu Dahai’s voice trembled, his grief barely contained. His only son had been killed, and despite knowing this, he had no idea who the culprit was. It gnawed at him.

…

An hour later, Renault parked the car outside a small town.

“This is Baoqu Town,” Renault said, recognizing the place instantly. The name was intriguing, meaning “embracing diversity and winding paths.”

Renault had heard stories about the town’s origins but had never delved deeply into them. However, he knew the layout of this town like the back of his hand.

He had spent almost the entire first year of the apocalypse here, surviving day after day.

“I know every building here,” Renault said to himself, memories flooding back.

“Renault, are we there?” Alice asked, her small hands pressed against the window, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.

“We’re here. It’s time to clear out this town,” Renault said, his face cold and determined. With the apocalypse just beginning, the number of zombies in this town should be enough to push him from iron-level to bronze.

This place was also perfect for Alice, Haoyu, and Fan Bing. The quantity and strength of the zombies would give them the practice they needed to hone their skills and grow stronger.